In the Spirit

Address: 183 East Bay St., Costa Mesa

Phone: (949) 548-2237

E-mail: stjohncm@jps.net

Denomination: Episcopal

Year established: 1955

Service times: Sunday, Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10 a.m. (choir and hymns),

Sunday school meets from 9:45 to 11 a.m. for children 4 to 10, nursery

care is provided from 8 to 11:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Holy Eucharist at 7

a.m.

Senior pastor: Conrad Nordquist

Church staff: Richard Dorsey, senior warden; Larissa Cahill, Christian

education director; Margaret Nolde, music director

Size of congregation: 100 families

Makeup of congregation: Largely white with ages ranging from infants to

95. Everyone is welcome and would likely be at home here.

Type of worship: Liturgical, Scripture-based celebration of Holy

Communion with active participation of the congregation.

Type of sermon: The message of the Scripture readings for the day is the

starting point from which Nordquist draws a practical application for

Christian living.

Social hour: Visitors are invited to join parish members on the patio for

the hospitality times that follow Sunday services. Nordquist is available

to spend time with each new visitor.

Outreach programs: The church supports S.O.S., a Costa Mesa organization

that helps the homeless and hungry; Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter,

which provides emergency and temporary shelter to homeless families;

Families Costa Mesa, a community organizing effort of congregations in

the city; The Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief, which acts to

relieve suffering and hunger for victims of disaster worldwide; and

various outreach programs of the Diocese of Los Angeles. The parish is a

member of the Newport/Mesa/Irvine Interfaith Council. It also operates

St. John’s Manor, a 36-unit housing facility for low-income seniors and

handicapped adults, which is next door to the church.

Parish programs: The Girls’ Friendly Society meets at the church Monday

evenings. This group is an achievement program that focuses on teaching

the heritage of the Episcopal Church. The girls earn symbols as they

become proficient in the church’s history, liturgy and Christian living.

Through three degrees of study, they learn how these things pertain to

God, others and self. All church members are encouraged to train for, and

to participate in, a ministry of the church such as the Altar Guild

(preparing the altar for Holy Communion), lay Eucharistic ministers

(helping the priest administer Holy Communion), lectors (reading the Word

of God at worship services) and greeters (offering help and hospitality

to visitors).

Dress: Informal, casual wear year-round

Church design: The grounds have a beautiful, park-like quality with the

church building set back from the street. This peaceful setting can make

the church, at Bay and Orange Avenue, hard to spot, however.

Mission statement: Joined in prayer and worship, we are a community of

disciples of Jesus uplifted by our calling to God’s reign of justice,

peace and love. We intend to be God’s pentecost people, inviting and

welcoming as we seek to be a congregation of service by being wise and

enlightened in our faith and ministering with all our youth.

-- Compiled by Michele M. Marr